Without a Clue

Starring:Michael Caine, Ben Kingsley, Jeffrey Jones, Lysette Anthony, Paul Freeman, Nigel Davenport, Pat Keen, Peter Cook, Tim Killick, Matthew Savage, John Warner, Matthew Sim, Harold Innocent, George Sweeney, Murray Ewan, Stephen Tiller, Michael O'Hagan, Ivor Roberts, Martin Pallot, Gregor Fisher
Director: Thom Eberhardt
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Without a Clue is an underrated comedy featuring stellar teamwork by two great actors, Michael Caine and Ben Kingsley. This Sherlock Holmes pastiche with a twist stars Kingsley as physician, writer, and self-effacing super-sleuth Dr. John Watson, who channels his genius for deduction into lucrative stories about Holmes. Watson wants the world to believe the fictional private eye actually exists, posing a problem when a steady stream of troubled souls come seeking Holmes's help. The doctor's prescription: hire a two-bit, drunken, skirt-chasing actor (Caine) to portray the Great Detective, an arrangement that causes Watson consternation whenever "Holmes" tries to improvise his way through a case. Wonderful comic timing and tension make Without a Clue a delight; Caine, particularly, gets a lot of mileage out of the faux Holmes's grand efforts to appear a genius. Henry Mancini's score adds a touch of old Hollywood gloss, and Thom Eberhardt (Night of the Comet) directs. --Tom Keogh

Description

Suppose for a moment that Dr. Watson was the real brains behind Sherlock Holmes? The result is anything but elementary! Academy AwardÂ(r) winners* Michael Caine and Ben Kingsley deliver stellar performances as a delightful duo, an 1890s Odd Couple (Los Angeles Times) in this madcapmystery that's 'the most hilarious Sherlock Holmes adventure of them all ('sneak Previews )! Dr. John Watson (Kingsley) is secretly a crime-solving genius. But to protect his reputation as a physician, he hires bumbling, boozy, out-of-work actor Reginald Kincaid (Caine) to play the part of his fictional creation, Sherlock Holmes. The charade works until Watson mysteriously disappears, forcing the baffled, seriously inept Holmes to crack the biggest case of Watson's career on his own! *Caine: Supporting Actor, The Cider House Rules (1999); Supporting Actor, Hannah and Her Sisters (1986); Kingsley: Actor, Gandhi (1982)

Customer Reviews:

Kingsley and Holmes as comic geniuses; 4+ 1/2 stars of sparkling spoof!!!.......2007-05-19

What a joy to see two of the finest actors on the planet, Ben Kingsley and Michael Caine in a comedy! Academy Award winners,both,WITHOUT A CLUE is a great reminder of how real comedy done by classically trained actors can be so much more rewarding, especially Ben Kingsley who is more noted for his serious roles. Caine on the other hand has often played a lout and a buffoon before (SAVING GRACE)with great effect. Both show why they have such long and distinguised careers as they, with great agilility, bring Dr. Watson and Mr. Holmes to life in this funny and ficticious role reversal.

It is not necessary to have an indepth working knowledge of the Sherlock Holmes stories to appreciate this wonderful film, though knowledge of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stories does make this screenplay all the more clever!

The great Henry Mancini provides a wonderful romp of a soundtrack fitting for this sparkling spoof on the team of Holmes and Watson.....or is it Watson and somewhat if none of Holmes at all???

Beautifully filmed on locations in and around London it is a real shame that WITHOUT A CLUE was released in a year when comedies such as BEETLEJUICE and A FISH CALLED WANDA as well as heavyweights DANGEROUS LIAISONS, THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST and RAIN MAN were garnering all of the praise .Perhaps in a different year WITHOUT A CLUE , Kingsley and Caine would have received the recognition so richly deserve!

Both vhs and dvd are adequate for WITHOUT A CLUE as they are both in FULL SCREEN and both have wonderful colour saturation.

Another suggested companion film spoofing the Holmes stories would be YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES.

a novel view in figure holmes.......2007-05-07

a good movie
a fine cast
a pleasure for holmes lovers

Fun, frothy comedy crime caper.......2007-04-16

This 1988 Sherlock Holmes spoof boasts Michael Caine as Reginald Kincaid, an occasionally drunk, often womanizing actor (with gambling debts as well) who's recruited by Dr. John Watson (Ben Kingsley) to play the part of Holmes, whose stories Watson writes and sells to Strand Magazine. The premise is a clever one, and both Caine and Kingsley carry off their roles splendidly--as mayhap may be said in the UK--providing enough wit and even slapstick to generate a nifty flow of chortles as the movie progresses.

Even the notorious Professor Moriarty is included here and while the movie is decidedly lighter than air, it's immense fun to see a group of talented actors having fun themselves spoofing the most well known literary sleuth of all time. Dudley Moore's former partner Peter Cook shows up in a small role--another bit of fun--and Jeffrey Jones is perfect as the semi-dopey Inspector Lestrade.

Caine and Kingsley play extremely well off each other; the movie almost doesn't need anyone else. But of course a mystery plot demands other characters and so they are there including, of course, the aforementioned Moriarty (Paul Freeman) who supplies the dastardly plot point of ultimately bringing down the entire British economy. Caine is funny and, at times, absolutely hilarious.

Lots of fun and definitely recommended.

Delightful.......2007-03-17

My Russian born soulmate and I recently watched this movie (DVD) and I have to admit I was a bit nervous. I discovered shortly after we started dating that the Russians have their own movie renditions of Sherlock Holmes and I must admit they are quite excellent. I was a bit afraid that she might find the whole idea of a comedy based on Holmes rather rediculous. I was also a bit concerned for myself, as I'd never even HEARD of this movie before we picked it up at the store the other day, despite the fact that it came out in 1988. But, given that it WAS a Holmes story and starred Ben Kingsley and Michael Caine, we figured "how bad can it be?".

Well, I'm happy to report that we both thoroughly enjoyed this movie, both as Holmes fans and as folks who enjoy a good comedy now and then. I was a bit surprised just how much and how often my girlfriend laughed. When we'd finished watching it, she said she not only liked it but considered it one of her favorites. This coming from a woman who judges both movies in general and Holmes movies in particular with a rather discerning eye.

Others have explained the plot well enough here so I'll just that the production values, acting and directing of this movie make it great fun for lovers of Holmes and comedy alike.

"Thank you, gentlemen, I am touched." "I can vouch for that!".......2007-01-16

The reviewers who have said you don't have to be a Sherlock Holmes enthusiast who is familiar with the Holmes stories to enjoy this film are exactly right. I don't generally give in to hyperbole when reviewing a movie, so I won't go overboard with superlatives here, suffice to say that this is a charming, delightful and VERY funny satire! It really is. If you are reading this review and have never heard of this movie, or have heard of it but never got around to watching it because it didn't get rave reviews, don't let that deter you any longer! Buy or rent this movie and you will not be disappointed, I'm willing to bet.

The plotline and background of the film have already been reviewed here, so I won't repeat them. I will say that I first began watching this movie with luke warm hopes that I would enjoy it, but boy, did I enjoy it! The time flew by and I laughed almost all the way through it. Usually, movies with so many in-jokes, visual humor and tongue-in-cheek one-liners will have several jokes that fall flat, but very few, if any, do here.

The character of Mrs. Hudson has a prominent role in this film, and it turns out to be a blessing, as Pat Keen played the role to the hilt. Her comedic portrayal of the proper and sometimes haughty Mrs. Hudson of the books was hysterical! (Oops! Some unintended hyperbole there! Well, what the heck, she really was extremely funny and I was impressed at just how engaging Ms. Keen really is! I had never heard of her before this movie and I found myself searching online for roles she has had in other films.)

I give this five stars. Admittedly, I am a huge Holmes fan, but my daughter is not and when I loaned this movie to her, she returned it to me saying that she thought it was great. She even threw a couple of notable quotes at me from the film. I liken Without a Clue, in many ways, to the original version of The Out of Towners with Jack Lemmon, another film I reviewed last month. (NOT the new, inferior version with Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn). Like Without a Clue, it is also relatively unknown by many people and is a very underrated comedy.

As for the packaging, I too, like others, am disappointed that this DVD is only available in full screen version and take off half a star on my rating for that. I would gladly have paid a few bucks more for some extras, possibly a commentary by Caine or Kingsley (or best of all, BOTH), or even a short interview or two. But since I am not able to give it 4 1/2 stars, I have given it five, as it is clearly worth more than four. Confusing? Peace.

Average customer rating:

Kingsley and Holmes as comic geniuses; 4+ 1/2 stars of sparkling spoof!!!
a novel view in figure holmes
Fun, frothy comedy crime caper
Delightful
"Thank you, gentlemen, I am touched." "I can vouch for that!"

Without a Clue [Region 2]
Starring: Michael Caine , Ben Kingsley , Jeffrey Jones , Lysette Anthony , and Paul Freeman
Director: Thom Eberhardt
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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